Sealants

Online Dental Education Library

Our team of dentists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.

Sealants

Food trapped in the back teeth in the pits and grooves that are formed on the chewing surface is extremely difficult to eliminate through regular brushing or rinsing. Sealants are stuck to the tooth enamel to keep the food from accumulating. The sealants are a tough material made of plastic. The main purpose of the sealants is to prevent food from getting stuck in the spaces in the back teeth. Moreover, they protect the teeth from decay that can grow. Sealants are tooth colored or transparent and are painted on the tooth surface. They seal the gaps that have been created and block decay from accumulating. Sealants are commonly used for children’s teeth but might be used for adults in some cases.

Prevention is better than cure. Waiting for decay to occur and then getting treatment is an expensive proposition. Getting sealants will guard the teeth from decay altogether. However, sealants are temporary solution to the problems. The normal life of a sealant is five years but they can deteriorate quickly through wear and tear. Sealants only protect the chewing surface of the back teeth, not the decay which is occurring between the teeth. Proper care is required for keeping the teeth clean.

There is no suitable substitute for sealants. A filling or restoration can help in case if the tooth has decay.